Watch This Dolphin Go Crazy Over a Girl’s Gymnastics Skills

Though aquariums have been getting a lot of bad press these days, we still have a soft spot in our hearts for them. There is just something so breathtaking about having the opportunity to get close to these rare sea creatures. And while most of us just walk up to the glass with our mouths agape, there are others who actually try their hand at actually communicating with the animals.

Case in point: Bonnie Anna, the flexible star of today’s viral clip who decides that simply taking a gander at these majestic mammals isn’t enough for her—she wants to interact! So, she begins doing what she does best: tumbling!

Now, let’s get one thing straight, we’re not talking about simply getting on the floor and performing some lopsided somersaults. This girl really knows her stuff, so much so that her skills even end up astounding one of the dolphins.

That’s right, “MissChief,” as she is known in her circus troop, puts herself right in front of the viewing glass and starts flipping away. Since we never progressed beyond “pee wee gymnastics,” we’re not too sure about the technical terms for what she is doing, but we think her moves are pretty amazing.

Her acrobatic skills quickly catch the eye of the aforementioned curious dolphin who, by the looks of his body language, quite literally begs the girl to perform more stunts. The mammal seems to be so engaged by the gymnast’s behavior that it practically stops swimming just so it can watch her some more!

FunDippedProductions

Of course, the spectators who are witnessing this incredible sight are absolutely stunned. “He’s freaking out!” a woman screams. Someone else yells, “Another one, another one!” The bendy gal’s friend even bestows quite the title on her: The Dolphin Whisperer! Sounds pretty accurate to us.

Because we were so taken by the dolphin’s interaction with Bonnie Anna, we did some reading on what this behavior may actually mean. According to Aeon, it turns out this event is an almost textbook example of dolphin-human relationships in action.

Believe it or not, studies have shown that even wild dolphins seek out friendship in humans. Considering this individual is in captivity proves that seeing is believing— it is really enthralled with the girl and seems to want to make a connection with her.

The popular clip has garnered an impressive 5 million views since being posted on YouTube by the gymnast’s troop FunDipped Productions, an independent circus based out of Orlando. Not bad considering this was just an off-the-cuff moment that was captured on camera!

To witness this incredible dolphin-human bonding moment for yourself, be sure to click on the video below. Hey, we can’t do back flips like she can, but we certainly want to go to the aquarium and try something similar out for ourselves!

What do you think about the dolphin’s reaction to this girl’s gymnastics routine? Have you seen a sea creature react similarly before? What’s your all-time favorite spot to watch dolphins in action? Tell us all about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!